Are you looking for a job? If so, you have to send your resumes out, either by post or by email, to your targeted employers. As you know, chances are you will face fierce competition to get the job. Therefore, it is important for you to know how to make a resume – a great one, which set you apart from the crowd and help you land the job. Aattractive style and solid content will make your resume stand out among all the other resumes the potential employer receives. There are some fairly simple rules for you to follow and this guide will show you how to make a resume truly shine.

First you need to choose the right format. It could be a chronological format, which is simply a resume listing your education and experience in date order. Usually, they are listed in reverse chronological order, that is, most recent items go first. This is the traditional way, and it is a good way to draft your resume. Also, you can use skill-oriented resume, which combines your skills from a variety of experiences. You need to group these skills by category, which are related to the job you're seeking. One of the advantages of this format is that it works well when a traditional resume just doesn't work to show that you are a good candidate…Perhaps you are coming out of college and are going for a Programmers job. They probably don’t care when you finished working at subway. They are more likely to be interested in your skill set.

Next, you should plan the content. It is easiest to list the content first before you design the layout of the resume, because the layout of the resume should be designed according to the contents. Think about what you need to let the employers know about you. Make sure it is relevant to the jobs you are applying for. In the first, list your personal information (your name, birth date, address, Phone number(s) and email address). The next section you should briefly list your skills. You can use a bullet point list for this. The next section is where you list your work history and experience in reverse chronological order with your current role at the top. After that you list your education and training. Again, do this in reverse chronological order. Next is a brief statement about your career ambitions. If you have any letters of recommendation or referees etc, list/attach them last.

Here is a list of the contents of a typical resume (after the cover letter), for your reference:

• Personal information
• Skills Set
• Work experience and your achievements (Note: It should be related to the job that you are applying for.)
• Education, training
• Special skills and abilities (ie, qualified in First Aid)
• Brief career objective/ambitions
• References & Referees.

Remember, a nice layout can make your resume stand out. If the resume is compared to a person, the content of it is the skeleton and flesh of a person, and the layout of it is the face. Also, your resume should only contain content that is related with your target job. Really aught to leave out any unnecessary skills or experience, because the employers are busy and only interested in your skills or experience related to the vacant position that you are applying for.

Some positions, such as a position related to arts, it is not a bad idea to make your resume have a different or artistic style. However, it is not suitable for all kinds of jobs. Most of the time you will want it looking professional and businesslike. What I’m getting at is that you should style your resume so that it is appropriate to the job you are applying for. Last but by no means least, pay attention to the grammar and wording of your resume. Before you send it out, print it, read it, give it to a friend to read, then correct any errors that you find.

Good luck with your job seeking and I hope this guide has successfully explained how to make a resume. If you have any other ideas on content or layout, I’d love to hear from you.